I had not quite a similar experience but certainly had an exbf with this push/pull dynamic going on. So many mixed messages, ambivalence. There was a semblence of sincerity, don't get me wrong, but the ambivalence factor was what the "friends" or his friends would hear all about. So the invites would continue to tag along or what have you. But naively the atmosphere was uncomfortable but didn't quite seem so because of politeness of them. So yeah, with the OP it makes good sense that an overwhelming amount of emotion would spill forth. Because it's like smoke and mirrors without the alcohol. The alcohol just pushes through the stuffed down emotions.